Along the Dejoune
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Along the Dejoune
Poussanges

Along the Dejoune

Heritage site and architecture
History
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You will fall in love with this one-day hike as you discover a secret valley, the Dejoune river valley.
This hike goes up the Dejoune River to the sources of the many streams that make it up, bordering the La Courtine military camp. Walking on the high part of the valley, elements of traditional architecture, the history of the hamlets, and viewpoints follow one after another. The large municipal woodland forest offers a variety of forest environments. Deciduous trees take precedence with oaks, beeches, and various softwoods.  On the way back, the church of St-Pierre/ St-Paul, dating from the 14th century, and the lime tree known as the "Sully" are inviting places to stop for a break.

8 points of interest

  • Heritage site

    Poussanges

    Benefiting from a southern exposure like most of the villages of the Limousin Mountain, the village of Poussanges has developed along a road. The commune had 155 inhabitants in 2017.
  • Heritage site

    Stone of the three lords

    This stone in the shape of a truncated pyramid located in the commune of Magnat L'Etrange could mark the limit of three 'seigneuries' or manors, including that of Pierrefitte. However, the meaning of the name Pierrefitte, which describes a stone that is fixed to the ground or a menhir, could suggest an older function for this stone.
  • Small patrimony

    Village of Lachaud

    The villages of Limousin were all strongly involved in agriculture. Walking through these hamlets always produces interesting discoveries during a hike: barns, mansions, crosses and monuments, traditional local architecture... You will take a very pleasant route to Lachaud. Don't miss in the heart of the village where the spring was restored in 2018. Notice the water inlet in an ancient granite sarcophagus.
  • Heritage site

    The Cloverleaf Route

    As you arrive at Queyriaud, a panel in front of a shed recalls a part of the history of the La Courtine camp. From 1959 to 1964 it became a training base for the Dutch military. As a result, the 4th Engineer Division built a road between Poussanges and the camp's northern entrance, called the Route du Trèfle, the cloverleaf route, named after the regiment's floral symbol. This auspicious period for the region was to end with France's withdrawal from NATO. The Museum of Remembrance at La Courtine is dedicated to this episode.
  • Small patrimony

    Le Moussard

    At the end of the track that runs alongside the Dejoune, a path leads to the village of Le Moussard. Here again, the vernacular heritage is present: note, in particular, a private bread oven and a drinking trough.
  • Flora

    The Great Woods

    An ancient forest massif of 182 ha located in the communes of Croze and Poussanges, the Grand Bois forest is enhanced by a 2.5 km interpretation trail (information sheet available in a letterbox on-site or in tourist offices).  The former forester's house has recently been restored as a gîte. A dry stone charcoal kiln was used to produce iron ore and then charcoal.
  • River

    The Dejoune

    The confluence of the streams of Lachaud and Boucheresse, which originate at the outer edges of the military camp of La Courtine, gives birth to the Dejoune. After a route of about ten kilometres, it flows into Creuse upstream of Felletin. After the wet meadow landscapes towards Lachaud, the watercourse deepens into the valley bottom, where only a few mills like the one at La Somme have been built, people preferring the crests as locations for their villages. 
  • Heritage site

    Church of St-Pierre and St-Paul

    Built in the 14th century with the addition of side chapels in the 18th century, the church at Poussanges was listed as a historical monument in 1963. It is dedicated to St-Pierre and St-Paul.
    Note a beautifully carved two-sided cross under the lime tree.

Description

Departure from in front of the town hall. Set off for the opposite side of town heading towards Croze then Magnat.
  1. Take the path before the cemetery. Go on alongside the meadows, and go through a wood. The path becomes a trail. Cross a stream and find a path that rises through a logging area.
  2. Follow the road to the left for 800 m. Turn right at the next crossroads, and go through Pierrefite. Take the path on the right opposite the La Gane crossroads.
  3. Go up into the woods. At the end of the meadow, turn left then right to find a path that goes up into a plantation. At the top, follow the path to the right. At the Y-junction, go straight ahead until you get to Lachaud.
  4. Keep to the left in the village. After the water tower, take the path to the right. Continue for 300 m, then fork right onto the trail. Turn left at the next crossroads to cross a stream. 50 m. after this, on the right, take an inconspicuous trail that goes into the woods. Follow the markings carefully. Find a path that goes back to the road. Turn right to Queyriaud.
  5. Keep to the left in the village. The road becomes a trail that you follow as far as La Somme.
  6. Cross the road, follow the track for 1.2 km. In a bend, take the path on the right, continue to Le Moussard.
  7. Turn left, then right, and then left in the village. At the last house, go up the trail returns to the road. Follow it to the right for 400 m. Follow the path to the left that runs alongside the road, joining a track that you take on the right. Take the road to the left and then, to the right, take a path that runs alongside the road again.
  8. Before the gîte, turn to the right. At the crossroads, turn right. Follow the trail straight ahead past where the charcoal is burned. Shortly after logging area, turn left; the trail goes down to the road.
  9. Follow it for 1 km. At the crossroads, turn left but stay on the abandoned road.  The road becomes a path that goes uphill into the forest and then arrives at the Poussanges church. Go through the town to get back to the start.
  • Departure : Car park at the Town Hall, Poussanges
  • Arrival : Car park at the Town Hall, Poussanges
  • Towns crossed : Poussanges, Magnat-l'Étrange, Clairavaux, Croze, Saint-Frion, and Saint-Quentin-la-Chabanne

Forecast

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Shooting takes place regularly close to the military camp at La Courtine. Don't worry, it only happens inside the military compound. This circuit is a shorter version of a longer circuit (20 km) which is the subject of a special description sheet.

Information desks

Place Quinault, 23500 Felletin

http://www.aubusson-felletin-tourisme.comtourisme.aubusson@gmail.com05 55 66 32 12

Place Voltaire, 19200 Ussel

05 19 60 00 30

Access and parking

As you leave Felletin heading towards Ussel, follow the D23 towards Poussanges. From Ussel, follow the D982 towards Felletin. 15 km beyond La Courtine, turn right, go through Clairavaux, then head towards Poussanges.

Parking :

Car park at the Town Hall, Poussanges

More information

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